HS3 must include North-East, says Institute of Directors

Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne is using a key note speech at the Science and Industry in Manchester to say that a new high-speed rail connection and better roads could create an economic "powerhouse" in the north of England to rival

GEORGE Osborne must include the North-East in new plans to boost regional economies via high speed rail links, the Institute of Directors (IoD) has said.

The IoD, which branded the HS2 rail link “a grand folly", said this morning it is far more enthusiastic about the Chancellor’s £7bn plan to revamp road and rail links and create a "northern global powerhouse."

Mr Osborne hopes to link Manchester and Leeds as part of a review into the second phase of the £50bn HS2 high speed project.

Loading article content

However, the IoD has warned Mr Osborne not to forget the cities of the North-East in the Government’s bid to help northern cities take on the world.

Graham Robb, the IoD regional chairman, said: “The North-East is THE exporting region in the country, so it makes sense that it should be involved in any decision on major UK infrastructure projects that could have a huge impact on business."

Mr Robb pointed to the latest IoD survey which showed that improved transport links were the number one priority for bosses across the North-East.

The Chancellor will use a speech in Manchester today to say that there is now a case for an east to west high speed line between northern cities. He is concerned that the British economy is too reliant on London and the South- East.

Promoted stories

He will say: "We need to think big. We need an ambitious plan to make the cities and towns here in this northern belt radically more connected from east to west – to create the equivalent of travelling around a single global city.

"As well as fixing the roads, that means considering a new high-speed rail link. Today I want us to start thinking about whether to build a new high-speed rail connection east-west from Manchester to Leeds. Based on the existing rail route, but speeded up with new tunnels and infrastructure. A third high speed railway for Britain."

The plan for the first phase of the HS2 project between London and Birmingham has proved controversial. Some residents are set to be disrupted and there is criticism of its price tag. The IoD feared it would act as a magnet that drew more wealth to London, rather than radiate prosperity to the regions.

Share article

Mr Osborne will say: "Of course, there are opponents of the project – just as there were opponents of the original railways. I've discovered that almost everything worth doing in politics is controversial. But thanks to the unusual alliance of a Conservative prime minister and Labour civic leaders, we are making it happen."

He will add: “We need a northern powerhouse too. Not one city, but a collection of northern cities – sufficiently close to each other that combined they can take on the world."

Promoted Stories

Comments (1)

Connectivity of people is key to getting regeneration. The opportunity is there for the party who can take the initiative further and have greater visionary revival. Extend the Pennines HS3 to the NE and Teesside becomes a commuter town for Leeds. A much better narrative than the Economist’s article suggesting the ‘rust belt’ should be closed down and their inhabitants paid to relocate to London. Then extend northwards to Wearside and Tyneside and on to Edinburgh and Glasgow creating a golden arc super region. Remember, Newcastle is closer to Edinburgh than it is to Leeds. This would be a much more powerful fillip for Scottish economic development and Salmond is right in that if NW (£337 per head on transport) is badly done to compared to SE (£800), the NE is ignored at £5/head. Costs ? A small fraction of HS1 or HS2. From Leeds, NE to Edinburgh is flat and brownfield. Fund through welfare savings. An outline route for the Edinburgh – Tyneside bit [with PPP funding case to HM Treasury Green Book standards] already exists.

Connectivity of people is key to getting regeneration. The opportunity is there for the party who can take the initiative further and have greater visionary revival.
Extend the Pennines HS3 to the NE and Teesside becomes a commuter town for Leeds. A much better narrative than the Economist’s article suggesting the ‘rust belt’ should be closed down and their inhabitants paid to relocate to London.
Then extend northwards to Wearside and Tyneside and on to Edinburgh and Glasgow creating a golden arc super region. Remember, Newcastle is closer to Edinburgh than it is to Leeds. This would be a much more powerful fillip for Scottish economic development and Salmond is right in that if NW (£337 per head on transport) is badly done to compared to SE (£800), the NE is ignored at £5/head.
Costs ? A small fraction of HS1 or HS2. From Leeds, NE to Edinburgh is flat and brownfield. Fund through welfare savings. An outline route for the Edinburgh – Tyneside bit [with PPP funding case to HM Treasury Green Book standards] already exists.pg1952

Connectivity of people is key to getting regeneration. The opportunity is there for the party who can take the initiative further and have greater visionary revival. Extend the Pennines HS3 to the NE and Teesside becomes a commuter town for Leeds. A much better narrative than the Economist’s article suggesting the ‘rust belt’ should be closed down and their inhabitants paid to relocate to London. Then extend northwards to Wearside and Tyneside and on to Edinburgh and Glasgow creating a golden arc super region. Remember, Newcastle is closer to Edinburgh than it is to Leeds. This would be a much more powerful fillip for Scottish economic development and Salmond is right in that if NW (£337 per head on transport) is badly done to compared to SE (£800), the NE is ignored at £5/head. Costs ? A small fraction of HS1 or HS2. From Leeds, NE to Edinburgh is flat and brownfield. Fund through welfare savings. An outline route for the Edinburgh – Tyneside bit [with PPP funding case to HM Treasury Green Book standards] already exists.

Ipsoregulated

This website and associated newspapers adhere to the Independent Press Standardards Organisations's Editors' Code of Practice. If you have a compaint about editorial content which relates to inaccuracy or intrusion, then please contact the editor here. If you are dissatisfied with the response provided you can contact IPSO here